Area snowfall Monday afternoon was blamed for at least one fatality accident and numerous other fender benders.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Lawrence Brewer, 71, of Sikeston was killed when his car skidded on ice and struck a utility pole. The patrol said the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. on Highway H, north of Miner.

The patrol said troopers responded to numerous other accidents including two others that caused minor injuries. About 25 accidents warranted reports. The area between Benton and Sikeston was where many of the accidents occurred, a spokesman said.

"Most of the work was just a matter of pulling people out of ditches," he said. "But those flurries we were supposed to get really turned into chaos."

The Illinois State Police at Ullin said about 11 accident reports were filed by officers after the brunt of the snow.

A spokesman said many of the accidents reported to the state police were worked by county and city officers. He said the few injuries reported at some of the accidents were minor.

Officers in Cape Girardeau filled out about 50 accident reports Monday afternoon and evening.

A spokesperson for the Cape Girardeau Police Department said most of the accidents were fender benders without injuries.

Many of the minor accidents didn't warrant police attention Monday afternoon as some drivers simply exchanged insurance information and continued on their way.

Highway crews from Missouri and Illinois were spreading cinders, salt and sand Monday night in anticipation of Tuesday morning traffic.

Subzero temperatures overnight froze the snow motorists melted on their way home Monday evening.

Officially, the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport reported an inch of snowfall Monday.

Flurries, light snow and subzero temperatures are part of the forecast until Thursday.